Kaduna community alleges planned genocide

The people of Attakar Chiefdom in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State have urged the Federal Government and other relevant authorities to save them from annihilation.

They alleged that constant attacks by Fulani herdsmen were threatening their existence.

Addressing reporters at Fadan Attakar, the headquarters of the chiefdom, the National President of Attakar Community Development Association (ACDA) Ishaya K. Samaila said over 100 people had been killed since March, when the Fulani first invaded the community.

The paramount ruler of Attakar people, Tobais Maiwada, also expressed sadness that the House of Assembly had not raised any motion to draw the attention of relevant authorities to the plight of his people.

Samaila said the invaders had destroyed about 500 houses and displaced over 10,000 people from the community.

The spokesman estimated the damage at N500 million.

He said the suspected perpetrators were occupying some of the villages that were attacked.

Samaila said: “On March 19 and 20, Stephen Aboye was killed at Mafan and Markus Aba was shot dead at Telak by suspected Fulani gunmen. On March 21, Attakar villages on the Plateau State axis, namely Kirim, Danti, Mayit, Zadian, Dajak, Tinga Mogwai and Durag were invaded, leading to the killing of 14 people and burning of 247 houses, including four churches and two schools. Personal items worth about N150 million were destroyed in that attack.

“On the March 30, which was the eve of Easter celebration, Mafan, Muyit and Zilan were again attacked in the afternoon, with 32 people killed. Two churches and two primary schools and most parts of the villages were razed.

“Also, on May 13, 13 people were killed in a night raid by the Fulani in Zangan District; 82 houses were destroyed, including a church and a primary school, forcing 3,000 people to seek refuge at Zangan Secondary School. On September 2, Adu Village, in the same Zangan District, was attacked. In that attack, a family of four was completely wiped out, leaving a death toll of nine.”

He said another attack occurred last Saturday in which 15 people were allegedly killed.

Samaila said: “The mode of the attacks showed that they were aimed at eliminating the villages because the children and women were not spared.

“The attacks seemed to be directed at taking over our lands, because attempts by the displaced persons were met with further attacks in which four people were killed at Mayit and Tela communities.

“The Fulani have now settled in Mayit and other villages, after displacing the Attakar people.”